Six steps to co-design a project

From ideas to impact

ACET accelerates small to mid-sized community energy transformation by co-creating resilient and equitable clean energy solutions that meet the demands of tomorrow.

Here are the six steps we take to co-design projects with partners.

1) Connect with us

All of our projects start with a conversation about opportunities, challenges, goals and ideas. We move at the speed of trust, so it's important for us to understand each community's clean energy aspirations and think together about how ACET can help to achieve them.

2) Explore new possibilities

Once interest in this collaboration is confirmed, we work closely with community leaders and government, industry and/or NGO partners to explore new possibilities together. 

This stage is about understanding the local context - the energy systems, community values and unique challenges or opportunities that will shape potential ways forward for the project.

3) Formalize our collaboration

When there's strong alignment between all parties and the way forward is clear, we formalize our collaboration through written agreements that outline scope, responsibiltiies and other relevant details.

This is a foundational step that clarifies our working relationship and signals our mutual commitment to building something grounded in trust and shared purpose.

4) Co-design the project

Next, the fun part: co-designing the project. During this phase of the planning process, we work closely together to define key goals, outputs, budgets, timelines, and expected outcomes.

Together, we develop a formal project plan in a way that ensures your local knowledge and priorities are embedded every step of the way, with support from ACET's research and technical expertise.

5) Review and reflect

When all collaborators agree the project plan is ready, it foes through a careful review by ACET's research council and, in some cases, by external experts. 

This step ensures the plan is sound, meets all partner requirements, and aligns with ACET's core values and mission.

6) Launch together

With the project's approval in place, we move forward - together. 

You'll receive formal notification and a package that includes all project details and outlines the next steps based on plans developed earlier in the process. 

From there, we begin the real work: collaborating to start your community's energy transformation.